MEDICAL RECORDS: Online Move Reducing Costs

MEDICAL RECORDS: Online Move Reducing Costs

A visit to the doctor may soon be getting a little more easy for patients to understand.

Kim Schwartz of the Boone County Hospital says the hospital and it’s clinics are switching over to electronic records.

“The patients will be able to look at the information when it’s convenient for them,”said Schwartz. She added that patients will also be able to have e-prescriptions sent to their pharmacy. “No more waiting in line,”she added.

The Boone County Hospital, like medical organizations all over, is converting from stacks of paper records, to electronic computer-based records. Now patients and medical professionals can view records and prescriptions online.

The move is expected to reduce costs, as many forms now filled out contain the same information. On the computer the records will transfer from department to department as patients get treatment.

Over 70 per cent of the cost of the record transfer is picked up by Medicare. The move was started under the Bush administration. This electronic records effort was funded by the Affordable Care Act.